19
Gallagher 3E1164 Power Fence Systems User Manual
Installing a Permanent Power Fence
TM
Super Earth Kit
In dry, low mineral soils with poor
earthing, eg. sandy, pumice or volcanic ash
soils, use the Super Earth Kit (G8800).
Note: In drought conditions it may be
necessary to water the earthing system.
4 wire earth return system
10m +
Figure 4.8 - 4 wire earth return system
Main causes of a poor earth are:
• Rusty or corroded earth stakes
• Broken earth wire connecting the stakes
• Not enough earth stakes
• Stakes too close together or too short
• Poor connections at the stakes or in the
connecting wire
Test the earth (ground) system
This needs to be done once a short section
of fence has been built. It should be tested
at least once a year or at the height of any
dry period to ensure the earthing capacity
is sufficient for the joule rating of the
energizer.
Short the fence out at least 100m (330ft)
away from the earth system by using
several steel stakes between the live wires
and the ground. Reduce the fence voltage
at this point to 2000V (2kV) or less.
Using a Digital Volt Meter (DVM) (G5030
or G5035) measure the voltage between
the wire connecting through the earth
stakes to the energizer earth terminal and
an independent earth stake. This stake
should be a galvanised metal rod, minimum
200mm (8”) long, and placed one metre
(3ft) away from the earth rods or as far
away as your DVM cable will reach (see
Figure 4.9
).
Note: If you are using a SmartPower
energizer the earth monitor/alarm will
indicate when the earth system requires
attention (see
Figure 4.6
).
There should be no reading on the DVM,
however up to 200V (0.2kV) is acceptable.
If the voltage is higher than this, switch off
the energizer, drive in more earth stakes at
the recommended spacings and connect
them to the existing earth system until the
voltage is down to the acceptable level.
1 m (3 ft)
100 m (300 ft)
kv
Digital Volt Meter
G5030
Figure 4.9
